Gas generating apparatus



May 4, 1943- J. T. DocKERY 2,318,297

` GAS GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1940 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 In ventor May 4, 1943 J. r. DocKERY 2,318,297

' GAS GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. l. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L@ I Z7 `7 Z9 Inventor' A torneys Patented May 4, 1943 UNI TED STATE S PATEN T Y FF'IfCE 2,318,297 GAS GENERA'HNG APPARATUS John T. Dockery,Jackson, Miss., assignorofonethird to J. I. 'Dockery, JacksonfMiss., and onethird to Ernest` L. Shelton, Jackson, Miss. Application February 1,` 1940, SerialNo. j31-6836 (Cl. (i2- 1) single ,pipe as bot-h a Aller pipe and a discharge '13 Claims.

The present invention relates to butane gas generating systems embodying a unitary gas vaporizing and collecting apparatus and apparatus for filling and dispensing liquefied gas by theuse of dual stripper tanks or gas collecting reservoirs and among other objects provides a novel, simplifled and reliable vaporizing and filling and dispensing unit to 'be used in household installa-- tions. This invention involves the utilization of and improvements on the apparatus disclosed in my Patent No. 2,172,021. `One of the objects of the invention is to provide a vaporizing, gas collooting', filling and dispensing apparatus for'connection to a storage tank adapted to be assembled as aunit and then connected to the main storage tank by means of a single pipe and so constructed that one pipe not only serves for the support of the dual gas collecting reservoirs or stripper tanks to which all of the appurtenances are anchored, but also provides a filling and discharge `pipe for the system.

In the present invention I use dual stripper tanks or gas collecting reservoirs so constructed that all appurtenances are anchored thereto, and lled and discharged through saidstripper tanks.

A further object of the invention is to provide the use of dual gas collecting reservoirs or stripper tanks, the use of which Vnot only increases the eiciency of the system in that the saturated vapors are more thoroughly stripped, vaporized, dried out and expanded before passing through the regulator but `the use of the dual gas collecting reservoirs provides a means Athat enables the system to remain in use while a filling operation is in progress, thus insuring the uninterrupted use of the system while the system is being refueled.

A vfurther object of the invention is toprovide a means and a filter between the dual gas collecting reservoirs or stripper tanks adapted to break up particles of wet gas passing from the lower collecting reservoir before same venters the upper collecting reservoir.

A further object of the invention is the adapta tion of an apparatus of this character embodying a single pipe for the filling of the storage tank and -for the initial discharge Vof gas generated therein, thus cutting down'the number of vopenings in the main Aunderground gasstorage reservoirvand Ythe possibility of underground -leaksand the loss-of fueland the dangers as a consequence thereof, and `further for economy in construction and assembly. This is accomplished by simply lling through 'the lower .gas `collecting reseryoir `or `'stripper tank rand, the utilization fof a pipe; and the utilization Yof 'the upper stripper tank or lgascollecti'n-g reservoir liorthe purposes of supporting Athe appurtenances.

Both'the Vmain storage tank and the stripper tanks are buried underground and I utilize the reserve heat of the earth-for the 'purpose offkeeping the liquefied gas above its boiling point in the main stor'age'tank andthe 'generated vapors from condensing in `the ,gas collecting reservoirs or stripper tanks.

Other 'obj ects and advantages reside in Athe details of construction andoperation Vas m-orefully hereinafter described and claimed, reference Lbeing had to the accompanying drawings Yforming part hereof, wherein like numerals 'refer to 'like parts Athroughout, 'and Kin which- 'Figure 1 `is a side elevational view with vparts broken away and shown in sections.

Figure 2 .is a horizontal sectional View through the cover 'for 'the tank.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary 'sectional view through 'the partition between Athe upper and lower stripper tanks, and

Figure 4 is' a fragmentary vertical sectional viewthrou'gh 'the screen mounted inthe partition between saidV tanks.

Referring nW lti) 'the "drawings in detail, the letter A represents tle 'main Vliquid storage tank, B represents the 'lwfs'trpper tanker gas V6.01- lecting reservoir, and C 'the upper stripper tank or gas collecting reservoir. :The tanks y'B and`C are of unitary construction of 'cylindrical form having the horizontal `p'afrtition -5 'defining the two tanks and said tanks aresupported in an upright positionon the tank A by a short pipe'E, the pipeserving the double function of a support and conduit between the'tanks A and `B. In accordance with my invention the single .pipe '5 serves not only .asthe discharge pipe for kthe vapors-generated in and kpa.ssingfrom tank A tothe lower stripper tank vB, `but also `serves as a ller pipe when the system is vbeing refueled, and allows the liquefied gas to flow from the stripper tank B into the storage tank A. The pipe E is sufficiently large'to allow the vapors fimpounded in tank -A to escape while said tankis being Afilled.

Mounted on the .top ofrthe upper stripper tank C is a tubular nipple rlv through which the slip tube gauge rod8 works. 'Ihe'gauge rodextends downwardly through the tank Cv and downwardly through the-oap-9 which isthreadedon the tubular connector yI 0 `positioned in the partitiontand which provides the communication between the upper and lower stripper'tan'k's. 'The lower end of the rod is provided with a stop II to prevent its complete withdrawal from the tank.

Positioned in the upper stripper tank C is a filler pipe I2 having its upper end projecting through the top of the tank and its lower end passing through the partition 5, the upper end of the pipe being provided with a iiller valve I3 and excess flow valve I4. The main tank A is adapt'- ed to be lled through the ller pipe I2 which empties into the lower stripper tank B which acts as a lling receptacle and the liqueed gas by gravity drains down through the pipe Sinto the storage tank A. The filler pipe: I2 is sufficiently small in order that the amount of liquid entering the tank B will drain into the main tank A through the pipe 6 which is suciently large to allow not only the now of liquid but also allows the vaporized gas impounded in the tank A to pass out through the pipe 6 into the lower stripper tank B. From the lower tank B the gas may pass upwardly through the tube I into the upper tank C, or the gas may pass upwardly through a vapor outlet pipe I which has its lower end inserted through the partition 5 into the lower tank B and has its upper end extending upwardly through the top of the tank C.

A gas outlet pipe 22 extends upwardly from the top of the upper stripper tank C to which a supply pipe II is connected, and having interposed therein a reducing regulator I8. The pipe 22 is also provided with a house line valve I9 and an automatic valve adapted to cut oi the gas in case of breakage of the house line leading from the outlet pipe.

The pipe I5 serves as an overflow pipe for the escape of excess liquefied gas delivered to the system, thereby preventing and avoiding the possible rupture of the system due to overrllling through the pipe I2.

As liqueed gas is being delivered into the main storage tank A, vaporized gas therein is allowed to escape through the pipe 6 into the lower stripper tank B and out through the pipe I5. The upper end of the pipe I5 is equipped with an excess flow valve 2l and a vapor valve I6, the upper end of whose casing is threaded to receive the connection from a hose 23 leading from the upper portion of the truck or lling tank (not shown). When the lling operation is in progress the filling hose from a truck tank is connected to the filling valve I3 and the vapor valve is connected to the hose from the upper portion of the truck tank and the vapor pressure is equalized in the two tanks and the liquefied gas will fiow into the storage tank A by gravity while the displaced gas in the storage tank is removed through the vapor outlet I6 back into the filling tank. When said connection is disconnected the upper end of the casing of the valve 2| may be closed by a plug (not shown), or the hose 23 may remain attached at one end to the valve and its other end attached to the filler valve I3 as shown -by the dotted lines in Figure 1 to prevent escape of the vapor from the stripper tank B. The top of the upper stripper tank C is also provided with a safety valve 24 to prevent excess pressure in the tank A and stripper tanks B and C. A pressure gauge 25 is also mounted in the top of the tank C.

The cap 9 on the tubular connector l0 is perforated as shown at 25 and positioned Within the cap is a iine mesh cup screen 21 adapted to break up the vapor before the same enters the upper stripper tank C from the lower stripper tank B.

` `Secured to the side walls of the tank C, adja-V cent the top thereof, are a plurality of brackets 28 upon which is positioned the housing 29 which encloses the valves and other equipment mounted on the top of the tank. The top of the housing is provided with a hinged cover 3i) to provide access to the equipment and the side walls of the housing are formed with Ventilating openings 3 I.

The main storage tank A and stripper tanks B and C are adapted to be buried in the ground to such a depth that only the upper end of the housing is exposed.

It is believed the details of construction, advantages and manner of operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liquefied gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank and a strip- Iper tank of a diameter greater than the diameter of the pipe and connected to said pipe above the latter, and means in the stripper tank separating the same into a plurality of superposed communicating stripper reservoirs.

2. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liquefied gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe and a partition in said stripper tank separating the same into a plurality of superposed' communicating gas collecting chambers.

3. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liquefied gasV tank adapted to be buried underground, a common ller and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in said stripper tank separating the same into upper and lower gas collecting chambers and a mist separator between said chambers.

4. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liquefied gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in said stripper tank separating the same into upper and lower gas collecting chambers, a passage in the YPartition providing communication between said chambers and a lter in said passage.

5. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueedgas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in said stripper tank separating the same into uppei` and lower gas collecting chambers, a passage in the partition providing communication between said chambers and a filler pipe extending through the upper chamber for supplying liquefied gas to the lower chamber.

6. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common ller and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to`and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in said stripper tank separating the same into upper and lower'gas collecting chambers, a passage in the partition providing communication between said chambers, a filler pipe extending through the upper chamber for supplying liquefied gas to the lowerl chamber, an overiiow pipe extending from the lower chamber upwardly through the upper chamber and a service line connected to the upper chamber.

'7. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common ller and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in Said stripper tank separating the same into upper and lower gas collecting chambers, a tube in the partition providing communication between said chambers, said tube being in vertical alignment with said pipe and a gauge rod having its lower end positioned in the main tank and extending upwardly through the pipe and the tube and having its upper end projecting outwardly of the upper chamber.

8. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liquefied gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in said stripper tank separating the same into upper and lower gas collecting chambers, a passage in the partition providing communication between said chamber, a pair of pipes communicating at one end with the lower gas collecting chamber, the other ends of said pair of pipes having atmospheric communication, one of said pair of pipes constituting a filler pipe and the other of said pair of pipes constituting a combined overflow pipe for excess liquid supplied to the lower gas collecting chamber as well as a Vapor discharge pipe for excess Vapor generated in the main gas tank.

9. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to and supported by said pipe, a horizontal partition in said stripper tank separating the same into upper and lower gas collecting chambers, a tube in the partition providing a communication between said chambers,

and means on the tube for extracting mist from the Vapor passing therethrough and returning the same to the lower gas collecting chamber and to the main tank.

l0. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, an upper gas collecting reservoir and a lower gas collecting reservoir communicating with each other, said lower gas collecting reservoir being connected to said pipe, and means at the point of communication between said reservoirs for extracting mist from the vapor passing therethrough and returning the same to the main tank.

ll. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common ller and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank connected to the upper end of said pipe, a horizontal partition in the stripper tank and separating the same into upper and lower communicating chambers, and a supply pipe communicating with the lower chamber of said stripper tank.

12. A gas generating and distributing appara- Y tus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, a common filler and gas discharge pipe rising from said tank, a stripper tank including a plurality of superposed communicating chambers, said pipe communieating with the lowermost chamber, and a supply pipe also communicating with the lowermost chamber.

13. A gas generating and distributing apparatus comprising a main liqueed gas tank adapted to be buried underground, an elongated stripper tank perpendicular to the main tank, a common ller and gas discharge pipe of reduced diameter connecting the tanks and supporting the stripper tank above the main tank, and superposed chambers in the stripper tank having rev stricted communication with each other.

JOHN T. DOCKERY. 

